Adjusting device for vacuum-tubes.



Patented Oc't. I6, |900` Mevr/ZET'. komsjfinrcle,

T. B. KINRAIDE.

ADJUSTING DEVICEFDR VACUUM TUBES.

(Appxiwmn med nec. 2e, 1599.1

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limieten Starts TI-IMAS B. KINRAIDE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lllDdUSTING DEVICE FOR VACUUWI'TUBES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 659,891, dated October 16, 1900.

pplGatOIl filed December 26,1899. Serial No. 741,501. (No model.)

To @ZZ wh/ont 'it' 77u03/ concern:

Be it known that L'lHoMAs B. KINRAIDE, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Adjusting; Devices for Vacuum-Tubes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to means for adjusting or regulating the focal distance of the electrodes in vacuum-tubes such as are commonly used in X-ray work. It is quite essential that some means for accurately and delicately adjusting the electrodes in this class of instruments should be provided in order to control the volta-ge and otherwise regulate the proper workingof the apparatus, and yet because ofthe vacu um requirements of the tube external adjusting)` Ineans, such as might ord inarily be employed in the apparatus in general use, cannot be used, and accordingly I have provided an internal adjustment, by means of which the electrodes may loe adjusted toward and from each other to the minutest degree required.

In its simplest form, as herein shown, my invention consists ot' a gravity-ham mer or adjusting means operated by gravity.

The details of construction of my invention and its mode of operation and further advantages thereof will be pointed out more fully in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, and the latter will be more particularly deiined in the appended claims.

In the drawing,r the figure represents in vertical longitudinal section a typical vacuumtube provided with my improved adjusting means. j,

It will be understood that the tube a may be a Orookes or Geissler tube or any of the usual kinds of vacuum-tubes used for this general purpose or may be any preferred kind, and, in fact, my invention may be applied to electrical apparatus of any kind wherein electrodes are employed within a vacuum. The opposite electrodes are herein indicated at a' a2, being such as are commonly used in connection with X-ray work, the electrode a being supported on a conductor as, suitably mounted in a glass or other socket or post a4, having an external connection by means of a suitable platinum or other wire d5, and the electrode a2 is similarly provided with a conductor d and wire a7, housed in a glass or other stem a8 of the tube.

I have herein shown my improvement in connection with theelectrode a2; but it will be understood that it may be provided in connection with the opposite electrode, or, if desired, both electrodes may be made adjustable.

Slidingly mounted on the rod or conductor ci is a cylinder a9, fitting said rod with sufficient exactness to prevent relative movement simply by the weight of the parts, but yet permitting the tube to slide frictionally on said rod when required, as will be more fully eX- plained.

At its lower end, as shown, the tube d carries a hollow or recessed pal't d10, to the opposite end of which is permanently secured a rod or post am, which carries the electrode a2. lVithin a longitudinal recess 0,13, provided in the part d10, I mount a gravity device, preferably in the shape of a ball a, capable of moving in said recess so as to strike projections therein, herein shown as formed by the opposite ends of the recess.

When it is desired to change the adjustment of the electrodes in any degree, all that is necessary is to move the vacuum-tube in such a manner as to cause the ball or gravity device d to strike or pound upon one or the other end of the recess (1,13, thereby driving' the cylinder a9 onto or olf from the post a4 to the extent required.

The rod an has a bearing L15 in order to maintain it perfectly steady, and the rod ai preferably has a stop d1 to limit the movement in that direction of the tube or cylinder a9.

While I have herein shown my invention in one specic and preferred embodiment thereof, I Wish it understood that I am not limited thereto, inasmuch as it is capable of being embodied in very many constructions, the main idea thereof being to provide a gravity device for automatically shifting the elec-A trode according to the position in which the vacuum-tube is placed and by this means IOO changing the striking or focal distance of thetWo electrodes from each other. For-instance, instead of having the part a9 hollow to slide on the rod a6 the parts may be reversed, and the part co9 may slide Within the part a6, or the part a9 or itsA equivalent may have fric-` tional engagement with any other part of the conductor or tube, so as to be retarded as desired, and I may employ any kind of an elec-V tric conductor between the adjustable electrode and the external connection aT or a5, as

the case may be, or the gravity device, in-A stead of being a ball sliding Within a member, may encircle and slide on said member or may be in any other shape moving in or on any moving part to be adjusted, it being understood that my invention consists in its broad aspect simply in providing a gravity'- ductor and said electrode including a device slidingly mounted in said tube and normally retarded frictionally from movement, and

means contained within the vacuum-tube forv .moving said sliding device and thereby adjusting the electrode, substantially as described.

3. In a Vacuum-tube, the combination with an adjustable electrode thereof, of means fwithin the vacuum-tube and controlled by ythe position of said vacuum-tube for adjusting the position of said electrode, substantially as described.

4. Ina vacuum-tube, an electrode slidingly mounted in the tube and having a recessed connection, and a gravity device movable in said recess for shifting the electrode in one direction or the other, substantially as de;

Y I scribed. operated device for overcoming the frictional 5'.B In a vacuum-tube, the combination with ian electrode movably mounted therein', of a ,gravity-hammer for shifting said electrode,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses. v

THOMAS B. KINRAIDE.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, GEO. W. GREGORY. 

